Improvement in potato-digger



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J'onN M. WILooX, or ALBANY, NEW YORK. Letters Patent Ivo. 67,148, dated July 23, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT 1N Formaliteiten.

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T0 ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. WILCOX, of the city and county of Albany, and State of New York, have invented and made a certain new and useful Improvement in Potato-Diggersjand I do hereby: declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the said invention, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making part of this specification, wherein- Figure lis a vertical longitudinal section of the said potato-diggexw Figure 2 is a plan of the said machine, and

Figure 3 is a plan below the line x a', iig. 1.

Similar marks of reference denote the same parts.

My said invention consists in a revolving raking apparatus that 'acts upon the vines, earth, and potatoes 'as they are raised by. a plough or scoop, and passes them upon a reciprocating Ysepara-tor; and I combine therewith a series of standing knives that cuts to pieces the vines 'or weeds that may wind around the revolving raking apparatus. By this construction of apparatus I prevent the weeds being buried by the earth and obstructing the machine, or preventing the potatoes separating freely from the earth.

In the-drawing, a is a frame of suitable size and strength, supported by the wheels 'b b, and c is the pole V for the 'attaching of horses or other animals. In the frame a are mortises for receiving thestandurds d d that extend up from the shoe or plough f, and on these standards are rack-teeth acted upon by the segments e e and levers g, so that the plough can be raised 'for going to the field or lowered for use. At the sides and to the rear of the ploughf are the side-frames @attached to the plough by the bolt z', forming a hinge that allows a certain amount of motion to the frames h and the separator they carry, so that it may draw over the surface of the ground. The separator w is formed of a series of bars, beneath which is a cross-bar, k, that has on it the n'gers Zthat proj-ect up through'the 'openings between the bars ofthe separator, and the said bar k and its ingers are given a reciprocating motion by the connecting-rods m m and cranks u n that receive motion from the pinions o o and wheelspp upon the axle of the supporting-wheels b. Upon the axle s of the wheels b is the revolving raking apparatus t, formed of a series of arms extending out from said axle, and these, as the machine is dra-wn along, pass the vines and weeds to the rear, and aid in delivering the earth and potatoes upon the separator w. And this revolving raking apparatus also tends to draw the weeds and vines up and keep them from being buried'in the earth. To prevent theweeds and vines, as they are drawn upon the rear side oi` the revolving rake t, being wound around said rake, I make use'ot` the stationary knives v that out saidl'vin'es and weeds 'so that they fall off the said revolving rake upon the surface of the ground.

What I claimv, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The revolving raking apparatus t and standing knives o, in combination with the plough or scoop f and separator w, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

I also claim the reciprocating fingers Z, actuated inthe manner specified, in combination with the separator w and ploughf, as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this sixth day of DeoemberfA. D. 1866.

J. M. WILCOX.

Witnesses:

CHAs. H; SMrru, GEO. D. WALKER. 

